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Imported Fire Ants

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Imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren and S. richteri Forel) are invasive pests

that may feed on crops such as sorghum, corn, and small grain seeds, forage grass,

and citrus seedlings. They can also girdle young trees and injure animals and

people. Their large nests located in fields interfere with and damage equipment

during cultivation and harvesting. They can move to non-infested areas by

hitchhiking on agricultural commodities.

A single fire ant can sting repeatedly. Young and newborn animals are especially

susceptible to the venomous sting. They also damage the environment, displace

native ant species, and reduce wildlife food sources. First introduced to the United

States from South America decades ago, imported fire ants likely arrived in soil on
cargo ships. Today, they are found throughout the Southern United States and in

parts of California and Puerto Rico.

What To Look For

Open, sunny areas like pastures, parks, lawns, meadows, and fields are most

attractive to imported fire ants. Here's what to look for:

Appearance

Ants are 1/8- to 1/4-inch long and reddish-brown or black in color.

Nests

Hard, mound-shaped nests; may get quite large (up to 18-24 inches high)

and pose a risk to field workers and farm equipment

Small white fire ant eggs, larvae, and pupae may be visible on top of their

mounds.

Stings

Ants respond rapidly and aggressively when disturbed; hundreds of fire

ants may swarm and run up vertical surfaces to sting. Stings from

imported fire ants are painful and cause a burning sensation and itching

blisters.

If you are unsure of the ant species you see, contact your local extension office for

their help to identify the species.

How to Prevent This Pest

Imported fire ants move and spread naturally to non-infested areas and hitchhike on

agricultural commodities. To help keep these pests from spreading to new areas,

follow the regulations on moving baled hay, soil, plants, soil-moving equipment, and

other items out of imported fire ant quarantine areas.

How It Is Treated
There are many fire ant treatment methods and products approved for use. Contact

your local extension specialist for guidance on what will work best for your situation.

If you're a producer or homeowner looking for general guidance, we recommend this

helpful resource from the University of Georgia extension office.

Report Plant Pests and Diseases

Have you seen this pest or signs of pest damage? Immediately report your findings.

Find your State plant regulatory official

Find your State plant health director

Controlling Imported Fire Ants

Current Status

Imported fire ants infest more than 367 million acres in Alabama, Arkansas,

California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina,

Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Puerto Rico. APHIS has

established quarantine areas where we know imported fire ant colonies exist. The

quarantines prevent artificial (human-assisted) spread of imported fire ants. We

work with State cooperators to regulate high-risk commodities, such as nursery

stock, hay, and soil-moving equipment.

Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Interactive Map

Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Map (1.6 MB)

List of Regulated Articles (135.58 KB)

Select your State from the drop down menu below to see if it has a Federal

quarantine for imported fire ants.

Pest Tracker: Find Pests by State or Region

Find out if your State has a Federal quarantine and/or State-level quarantine for any

hungry pests.

Select a State or Region ▾ See Results
APHIS' Response

APHIS works to manage imported fire ants in infested areas. We work with States,

industry, and other Federal agencies to develop and evaluate regulatory treatments

for high-risk commodities and revise regulations and procedures as needed.

Imported Fire Ant Program Manual

PPQ Treatment Manual

Regulatory Information

Federal Regulations

Recent Federal Orders

February 14, 2024, APHIS Expands Quarantine Area for the Imported Fire Ant

(Solenopis invicta, S. richteri, and hybrids of these species) in Oklahoma and

Tennessee (190.05 KB)

July 25, 2023, APHIS Expands Quarantine Areas for the Imported Fire Ant

(Solenopis invicta, S. richteri, and hybrids of these species) in Virginia. (137.72

KB)

October 27, 2022, Expansion of Quarantine Areas for the Imported Fire Ant (

Solenopis invicta Buren, S. richteri Forel, and hybrids of these species) in

Arkansas and Tennessee

Information for Producers

Contact your State plant health director or State plant regulatory official to request a

certificate if you want to move a regulated article out of a quarantine area. The

required document is issued by State or Federal personnel upon inspection of the

regulated article to be moved. 

Regulated Areas

Regulated Articles

Imported Fire Ant: Quarantine Treatments for Nursery Stock, Grass Sod, and

Related Materials

Questions and Answers: Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Information for

Nursery/Sod Growers
Questions and Answers: Moving Baled Hay From Areas Under Quarantine for

Imported Fire Ant (916.5 KB)

Spread the Word

Truckers: Don’t Let Imported Fire Ants Hitch a Ride

Contact Us

Ron Weeks, Jr.

National Policy Manager

Email: ron.d.weeks@usda.gov

Phone: 919- 559-4311